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Three Branches of Government

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The legislative branch _________ the laws, the executive _________ the laws, and the judicial _______________ the laws.

a)

Makes, interprets, enforces

b)

Makes, enforces, interprets

c)

Enforces, makes, interprets

2.

Congress is the collective name for the legislative branch. It includes _____________

a)

The House of Representatives and the Supreme Court

b)

The House of Representatives and the Senate

c)

The House of Representatives and the President

3.

Who acts a judge in a presidential impeachment trial?

a)

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

Vice President

4.

Tax laws must ALWAYS start in the _______________.

a)

Senate

b)

Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives

5.

What are the three qualifications to become president of the United States?

a)

Must be at least 35, have lived in the US for 14 years, and a natural born citizen

b)

Must be at least 35, have a college education, and a natural born citizen

c)

Must be at least 30, have lived in the US for 10 years, and be a natural born citizen

6.

To be a member of the SENATE you must be....

a)

At least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, resident of the state where elected

b)

At least 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, resident of state where elected

c)

At least 35, a natural born citizen, and lived in the US for 14 years

7.

If the president gets a bill from Congress to sign, does no action for 10 days, and Congress goes out of session, what happens to the bill?

a)

Congress can overturn it with 2/3 approval from both houses

b)

The bill becomes a federal law

c)

It is called a pocket veto

8.

What happens to most bill when they are introduced to Congress?

a)

Most of them die in a committee at the beginning of the process

b)

Most become federal law

c)

Most get of them get to the Senate, but die when a senator filibusters

9.

What is a filibuster?

a)

A speech made to block a vote on a proposed bill

b)

A form of government where the states and the national government share power

c)

A bill introduced to Congress regarding taxes and revenue

10.

A filibuster can only occur in the....

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Senate

c)

House of Representatives

11.

The ____________ nominates the head of each executive department and federal judges (including Supreme Court Justices)

a)

The President

b)

The Senate

c)

The House of Representatives

12.

What is the State of the Union address?

a)

Annual address by the president about the country's economy and other important national matters

b)

Annual address by Congress about new legislation

c)

Annual address by the Supreme Court about current oral arguments

13.

If the president dies/leaves office before their term is over, the vice president takes over. If the same were to happen to the vice president, who would be next in line to be president?

a)

Senate Pro Tempore

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

Secretary of Defense

14.

How long does a Supreme Court Justice serve in office?

a)

Four years

b)

Eight years

c)

For life

15.

Only ___________ can declare war, but the ______________ has the power to send soldiers to battle.

a)

Congress; the President

b)

The President; Congress

c)

Congress; Supreme Court

16.

The Executive branch includes.....

a)

The House of Reps and the Senate

b)

The President, VP, and executive departments

c)

The Supreme Court

17.

The executive department that is in charge of national parks and national forests is _______________

a)

Dept. of Agriculture

b)

Dept. of the Interior

c)

Dept. of Homeland Security

18.

In the ______________, representation is based on the population of the state, while in the ___________ representation is equal (meaning it's the same number per state)

a)

House of Reps; Senate

b)

Senate; House of Reps

c)

House of Reps; Supreme Court

19.

A conference committee will be set up if....

a)

there are inconsistencies between the versions of the bill passed in each house of Congress

b)

there is a need to conduct a specific investigation

c)

the president is being impeached from office

20.

What is the purpose of the checks and balances system?

a)

prevent the President from becoming a king

b)

preventing any of the branches from gaining too much power

c)

prevent a civil war

21.

Which is true about Cabinet members?

a)

They are part of the legislative branch

b)

They heads of executive departments

c)

They are appointed by the House of Representatives

22.

Which executive department is in charge of maintaining the safety of the boarders and recovering from natural disasters?

a)

Dept. of Interior

b)

Dept. of Homeland Security

c)

Dept. of Treasury

23.

When the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional, this is an example of what?

a)

Interpreting the law

b)

Making the law

c)

Executing the law

24.

If the president vetoes a bill, what happens next?

a)

the bill cannot become a law

b)

Congress can override the veto with 2/3 approval

c)

the Senate can ask the president to reconsider

25.

The picture shows details about the US government. Which government body completes the diagram?

a)

The Senate

b)

The Cabinet

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The House of Representatives

26.

Which of the following actions is the FIRST in the process of how a bill becomes a law?

a)

the bill is sent to a conference committee

b)

the bill is debated on the floors of both the House of Representatives and the Senate

c)

the bill is introduced by a member of Congress, either a Representatives or a Senator

d)

the bill is voted on by both chambers of Congress

27.

Read the following sentence and answer the question:

"The President of the United States has nominated someone to serve as a justice of the Supreme Court"

Which acion is necessary before the nominees can serve on the Supreme Court?

a)

The House of Representatives must confirm the nominee

b)

The Attorney General must approve the nominee

c)

The Supreme Court must approve the nominee

d)

The Senate must confirm the nominee

28.

What did the US Supreme Court Case Marbury v. Madison establish?

a)

Checks and balances

b)

Judicial review

c)

Federalism

d)

Presidential Line of Succession

29.

Tax laws...

a)

have to be voted in by the citizens

b)

can be proposed to Congress by the President

c)

can never be repealed

d)

must start in the House of Representatives

30.

Why does the Senate oversee approving Cabinet appointments?

a)

The Supreme Court gave them that responsibility

b)

It serves as a check and balance

c)

all states are equally represented there

d)

the Vice President is part of the Cabinet

31.

Which of the following is true about the State of the Union address given by the President?

a)

it is given every 4 years

b)

it is given in the Senate chambers

c)

it is required by the Constitution

d)

it does not invite the Speaker of the House

32.

Most members of the President's Cabinet are referred to as a _________. The only difference is the Attorney General.

a)

Cabinator

b)

Secretary

c)

Senator

d)

Representative

33.

According the picture, what is the next step in the lawmaking process?

a)

the President signs the bill

b)

the bill is sent to the Senate

c)

the bill is sent to a conference committee

d)

the bill is debated on the floor of the House of Representatives

34.

What is an example of the president's ability to "check" the power of Congress?

a)

the power to veto laws

b)

the power to approve treaties

c)

the power to impeach officials

d)

the power to approve appointments

35.

Which power does the US Constitution grant to the legislative branch of government?

a)

declaring war

b)

enforcing laws

c)

making treaties

d)

interpreting laws